Selective locking mechanism for an introducer device

Abstract

A selectively lockable introducer assembly is disclosed that comprises an introducer cannula and a needle guide. The introducer cannula is defined by a proximal end and a distal end and includes a lumen extending therebetween. The needle guide is defined by a body portion that includes at least one channel extending therethrough. The introducer cannula is configured to be selectively receivable within the at least one channel and the introducer cannula may be selectively lockable with respect to the needle guide such that the introducer cannula is selectively prevented from moving laterally with respect to the needle guide.

1. A selectively lockable needle guide, comprising:
 a body portion, wherein the body portion includes at least one channel extending therethrough and one or more slots operably connected to the at least one channel, wherein the slots cooperate with the channels such that the body portion is selectively configurable between an uncompressed configuration wherein at least the portion of the channel adjacent the slot is defined by a first diameter, and a compressed configuration, wherein at least the portion of the channel adjacent the slot is defined by a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter; 
 wherein the body portion is configured such that as the body portion is moved into the compressed configuration, the slot cooperates with the channel to reconfigure the body portion into the compressed configuration so as to prevent an instrument that is inserted within the channel from moving laterally with respect to the needle guide. 
 
     
     
       2. The selectively lockable needle guide of  claim 1 , wherein the slot extends to an outer periphery of the body portion. 
     
     
       3. The selectively lockable needle guide of  claim 2 , wherein the slot extends between two channels. 
     
     
       4. The selectively lockable needle guide of  claim 1 , further comprising a flange extending outwardly from a proximate face of the needle guide and located along at least a portion of an outer periphery of the body portion, wherein the flange is sized to have a periphery that is larger than the size of a periphery of the body portion. 
     
     
       5. The selectively lockable needle guide of  claim 1 , further including a moveable ring encircling an outer periphery of the needle guide, the ring urging the body portion inwardly and into the compressed position when the ring is advanced towards a distal end portion of the body portion. 
     
     
       6. The selectively lockable needle guide of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion includes a support member, the support member is connected to a proximal face of the body portion. 
     
     
       7. The selectively lockable needle guide of  claim 6 , wherein the support member includes at least one outwardly extending arm including a pivot member, the pivot member configured to selectively contact a portion of a compression grid into which the body portion is inserted, to force the body portion in a proximal direction and at least partially out of the compression grid. 
     
     
       8. The selectively lockable needle guide of  claim 1 , wherein the slot includes an uncompressed open position and a compressed closed position, the slot being inwardly compressible and snapping between the uncompressed open position and the compressed closed position. 
     
     
       9. The selectively lockable needle guide of  claim 1 , wherein each of the channels are tapered inwardly from a proximal end to a distal end of the body portion, such that a distal end of the body portion includes a distal periphery that is less than a periphery of the body portion at the proximal end. 
     
     
       10. A selectively lockable introducer assembly, comprising:
 an introducer cannula defined by a proximal end and a distal end; and 
 a needle guide defined by a body portion, wherein the body portion includes at least one channel extending therethrough; 
 wherein the introducer cannula is configured to be selectively receivable within the at least one channel; and 
 wherein the introducer cannula further comprises a plurality of retaining members and wherein each channel of the needle guide further comprises at least one retaining tang extending from an inner surface of each channel; wherein the retaining members of the introducer cannula cooperate with the at least one retaining tang of the channel of the needle guide to selectively lock the introducer cannula to the needle guide to prevent the introducer cannula from moving laterally with respect to the needle guide. 
 
     
     
       11. The selectively lockable introducer assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the retaining members are positioned equi-distance apart along a portion of an outer surface of the introducer cannula. 
     
     
       12. The selectively lockable introducer assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the retaining members are arranged in two rows on an outer surface of the introducer cannula, the rows being positioned 180° apart. 
     
     
       13. The selectively lockable introducer assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each channel includes at least a pair of retaining tangs formed on an inside surface of each channel and extending inwardly into the channel, each of the retaining tangs being positioned 180° apart from one another. 
     
     
       14. The selectively lockable introducer assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of depth indicators positioned on an outer surface of the introducer cannula. 
     
     
       15. The selectively lockable introducer assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the introducer cannula further comprises at least one central channel formed on an outside surface of the introducer cannula and a plurality of retaining grooves extending away from the central channel; and
 wherein the at least one retaining tang is sized to fit within the central groove and the retaining grooves. 
 
     
     
       16. The selectively lockable introducer assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the introducer cannula includes a pair of central grooves extending along the length of the introducer cannula, the central grooves being spaced apart by 180°. 
     
     
       17. The selectively lockable introducer assembly of  claim 16 , wherein each channel includes at least a pair of retaining tangs, each retaining tang being position 180° from one another. 
     
     
       18. The selectively lockable introducer assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of pairs of retaining grooves extending from the central groove, each pair comprising a first retaining groove and a second retaining groove that are arranged along a common axis. 
     
     
       19. The selectively lockable introducer assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of depth indicators positioned on an outer surface of the introducer cannula. 
     
     
       20. A selectively lockable introducer assembly, comprising:
 an introducer cannula defined by a proximal end and a distal end; and 
 a needle guide defined by a body portion, wherein the body portion includes at least one channel extending therethrough; 
 wherein the introducer cannula is configured to be selectively receivable within the at least one channel; and 
 wherein an outer surface of the introducer cannula is threaded along an outside surface of at least a portion of the introducer cannula and wherein an inner surface of each channel of the needle guide is threaded. 
 
     
     
       21. The selectively lockable introducer assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of depth indicators positioned on an outer surface of the introducer cannula. 
     
     
       22. The selectively lockable needle guide of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is transferred from the uncompressed configuration into the compressed configuration by the application of a circumferential force.